Despite everything, the Caribbean's most impressive island offers one of the world's great travel experiences, from its music and culture to Havana and its other cities, as well as beaches and nature.
A guide to visiting Cuba during COVID-19: what it's like to travel there now
Roberto Machado Noa / GettyLonely Planet recently came out with this article from their Cuba guide writer about pandemic-era travel to the island, which has had a low number of COVID cases and the world's second highest vaccination rate. Interesting reading; check it out here.
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Well, the big Cuba reveal today looks like pretty weak tea. The main restrictions seem to be tightening categories of Americans ‘legally’ allowed to visit; shifting travel more from FIT to groups; and no spending at hotels/restaurants connected with companies owned by Cuban military. Which is A. basically unenforceable, and B. will be sidestepped by Castro régime with some fancy administrative footwork.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/16/politics/trump-cuba-policy/index.html
This NYT piece that just came out says they might also go back to applying for specific licenses instead of the more blanket ones allowed right now. But even if that's the case...
"Still, travel to Cuba before the countries restored relations was easier than many people think, Cuba travel experts noted. It may become a question of doing more homework to make sure your purpose for travel fits one of the permitted categories."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/travel/what-you-need-to-know-tra...
"Once a year" would be a smart face-saving decision for Trump. His rank-and-file followers would be happy to slam the door; his corporate contributors would howl if he seriously cut ties. He'll certainly retract the right to important rum and cigars, which is a shame, but God knows, it's not as bad as returning to pre-tourism days. Anil, a good compromise between the difficulties of FIT and the bubble of a group would be to contact one of the tour operators that use their know-how to plan an FIT trip for you. For example, Friendly Planet.
We'll have to see what the word is later this week when this new White House crew announces what it has planned for US-Cuba travel. My friend Christopher Baker says the rumor is that travel will be limited to once a year - which wouldn't be so bad. In any case, it will still be pretty easy to travel through third cities like Mexico City, Montego Bay, Cancun, Santo Domingo, etc.
I am gonna do it. Let's see what happens. Maybe it will be too late by the time I get all things done.
I dunno, Anil, when we were there in January, the place was packed with USA types. I think FIT travel to Cuba is now easier for the average person than it's been since 1959. Give it a shot - what's holding you back? Agent Orange might soon try to clamp down, then things would in fact get more difficult.
Two years later.....
It still is not easy for a non-journalist, or a doctor, or researcher/educationist to visit Cuba independently without fuss. So many US airlines have been given route-pairs, yet I find myself excluded from the party :( Things won't get better with twitter-in-chief !
Oh well ! It is good to Rant. Thanks for your patience.
Further update, Anil: http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/Updates-on-Cu...
Happy to hear it, Anil. Best regards, as always.